Career News 24/7: The Cynical Girl: Make Lemonade Out of Lemons

Saturday, May 25, 2013

The Cynical Girl: Make Lemonade Out of Lemons

Posted: 23 May 2013 03:45 AM PDT

I wonder what you think about my life. Let me tell you who I am.

I am a Human Resources chick who hated her job and tried something new: writing and speaking.
At first, I didn’t know what I was doing.
And my new career was totally inconvenient.
In the middle of the recession, we could have used my former salary.
And the pressure on my husband — the major breadwinner and provider of our health insurance — wasn’t always easy, either.

But now I can look back and say that the change was worth it. Well, maybe. I dunno. I’m a late bloomer.

Anyway, I hope people read this blog (or follow me wherever I speak and write) and see that I’ve made lemonade out of lemons.

I am not a particularly talented speaker. Although I’ve been able to monetize my knowledge of social media and B2B marketing, much of what I talk about is really dry and boring. And writing about work, power, politics and money won’t earn me a Nobel Prize.

But this crazy life of mine led me to Grand Cayman (and a really great resort) to talk to a bunch of HR professionals about social media.

CISHRP – 10th Anniversary Conference 2013 from CML TV on Vimeo.

I look at other people’s lives on social networking sites (cute babies, successful marriages, impressive CVs and resumes) and I know that much of the struggle and the heartache in life is glossed over with selfies and meaningless credentials. No one likes to talk about the tough stuff in life. I don’t blame them, either.

So what I show you — although not entirely deep and intimate — is as honest as I can be about myself without being weird.

And maybe I am weird.

Right now, I am just a former HR lady who travels around the world, has great friends and visits cool places. I do this despite the fact that I still hate my industry (HR) and often doubt my abilities.

But I have great friends, a partner in life who believes in me, and readers who keep asking for more.

Lemonade out of lemons, baby. That is my approach to life.